Shaving implement



June 7, 1938. T T 2,120,009

SHAVING IMPLEMENT Filed May 12, 1936 INVENTOR 44am mu ATTORNEY Patented June 7, 1938 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" SHAVING IMPLEMENT Nicholas Testi, Boston, Mass, assignor to Gillette Safety Razor Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1936, Serial No. 79,295

Claims. (Cl. 30-43) I This invention relates to shaving implements of The blade, moreover, is a relatively inexpensive the type employing co-operating shearing memelement and may be replaced at little expense by bers for the cutting operation. the user when it becomes worn in the operation In one aspect the invention comprises the comof the implement. 5 bination of a rotary shearing element with a. These and other features of the invention will 5 blade having a longitudinal cutting edge mainbe best understood and appreciated from the tained in contact with the surface of the rotary following description of certain preferred emelement and suitable guard members for deterbodiments thereof, selected for purposes of illusmining the angle of presentation of the impletration and shown in the accompanying drawing,

ment to the face of the user. As herein shown, in which:- 10 the rotary element may take the form of a helix Fig. 1 is a view of the implement in end elevamounted to revolve about its longitudinal axis tion, partly in section and on an enlarged scale; and the blade may be flexible transversely so Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on a still that its edge may be brought accurately into cutfurther enlarged scale; ting relation with the helix. This construction is Fig. 3 is a plan view in actual size of the blade 5 advantageous in that it permits accurate adjustof the implement;

ment of the shearing elements and because it is Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the blade on a effective yieldingly to maintain the proper presgreatly enlarged scale; sure of engagement and adjustment. As herein Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views of three shown, the edge-bearing portions of the blade different forms of blade, each being shown with may be arranged resiliently to engage the surface an associated cutting helix;

of the helix, or the edge-bearing portions of the Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views in eleblade may be rigidly supported and the helix vation illustrating three different forms of cutmounted for yielding bodily movement. ting helices;

An important feature of the invention consists Fig. 11 is a view in end elevation of a modified 25 in the combination of a rotary cutting helix with form of implement;

a blade having a serrated edge co-operating Fig. 12 is a view in longitudinal section of the therewith. Under some circumstances, and parhead of the implement shown in Fig. 11; and

ticularly in the case of a cutting helix having an Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in cross-section 3O obtuse cutting angle, there is an objectionable and on an enlarged scale of another modified tendency to displace sideways the hairs which are form.

acted upon by the cutting edge, so that the hairs The implement shown in Fig. 1 has a tubular are either not cut or not closely cut. These difiihandle ill to which is secured a horizontally disculties are avoided in accordance with the presposed cylindrical casing l2 substantially equal in ent'invention by serrating the edge of the cutlength to a commercial safety razor blade. In

ting blade forming in effect pockets which rethe cylindrical casing is mounted a small rotary ceive the hairs and prevent their displacement, motor which is supplied with energy through the acting instead to hold the hairs stationary durwires H encased in the handle I. The field ing the shearing operation which is effected by poles l3 of the motor, with the field windings,

40 the movement of the helix. are secured to the inner walls of the casing I2 and 40 In another aspect my invention comprises the armature l4, mounted on a shaft I5, is jourbroadly a duplex shaving implement employing naled in the endwalls of the casing. A driving oppositely rotating cutting elements having the gear I6 is secured to one end of the shaft I5 and capacity of operating with equal efliciency when this in turn is gear-connected to a pair of spaced moved transversely in either directions over the parallel cutting helices mounted to rotate at op- 45 face of the user. In 'this connection, another posite sides of the implement. The left-hand feature of the invention consists in the combihelix 20 is driven in a clockwise direction by the nation with a pair of spaced cutting helices of a gear I6 through an idle pinion I1 and a driving double-edged blade so mounted that the two edgepinion i8 which is fast to the end of the helix hearing portions thereof may be adjustably posishaft IS. The right-hand helix 20 is driven in a tioned in proper shaving relation with the two counterclockwise direction through the medium helices respectively. of two idle pinions not herein shown. The idle In the implement of my invention the blade is pinions and the helix shaft l9 are journaled in replaceably mounted so that it may be readily plates 28, one secured to each end of the casing removed for purposes of cleaning or replacement. l2 by suitable screws. 55

Each helix is partially encased in a curved trough formed by a guard flange 2| which extends upwardly as'an integral part of the casing and is curved about the outer side of the helix. The upper edge of the guide flange is slotted to form guard teeth 23 and these have the function of protecting the face of the user from the uncontrolled action of' the helix and also to direct the hairs to the helix and-to straighten those which may happen to be bent over. The action of the guard teeth 23 is best suggested in Fig. 2

of the drawing. The helix 20 comprises a pair I of spiral portions sharpened longitudinally to a ranged to pass through the blade-locating slot cutting edge and being fluted circumferentially to afford liberal clearance. I

Arranged to co-operate with the two cutting helices is a normally flat, thin, double-edged blade 26 which is arranged to be. supported upon a shouldered platform formed as an integral part of the casing l2. The blade is flexed transversely over the shoulders 22 as fulcrums by a curved cap member 24 having a downwardly disposed concave blade-engaging face of greater width than the spacing of the shoulders 22. The cap member is adjustably clamped in place by means of a thumb screw 25 and it will be understood that by turning the thumb screw 25 in or out the position of the two cutting edges may be adjusted to a nicety with respect to the helices. The cap may be provided, if desired, with a pair of spaced blade-locating studs 29 which are artance of the bevel so that the thickness of the blade at the inner end of the slots is approximately .002". Consequently, the length of the stubble need not exceed the thickness of the blade at this point. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate' different forms of cutting helices. The helix 20 includes a pair of cutting portions arranged with a relatively long pitch. The helix 32 of Fig. 9

is characterized by a' single spiral cutting portion of much shorter pitch and the helix 33 has even a shorter pitch and a correspondingly more obtuse cutting angle as indicated in Fig. 7. Any one of the three helices shown may be employed with satisfactory results in the illustrated implement and other forms of cutting helices would be'within the scope of the invention. The purpose of serrating the cutting edges of the blade is primarily to provide a series of projections which tend to hold the hairs in place against the tendency of the spiral edge of the helix to displace it. .This tendency is more pronounced in the case of such a helix as that of Fig. 10, where the cutting angle is obtuse, than in the case of such a helix as that of Fig. 8, where the cutting angle is more acute. As already pointed out the depth of the serrations determines the line of out and the thickness of the blade interposed between the surface of the helix and the face of the user.

The blade 25 is maintained in position in the implement by the vertical clamping screw 25 and may be quickly released for purposes of replacement or cleaning merely by unscrewing the clamping screw 25. The degree of transverse curvature of the blade may be also adjusted by manipulation of the screw 25 and the edges of the blade may thus be adjusted correctly to a position of cutting contact with the surface of the respective helices. In this position the edgebearing portions of the blade occupy a substantiallytangential relation to the helices.

It will be understood, of course, that in operation the helices are rotated continuously at a high rate of speed and in opposite directions, that is to say, at their upper sides; both helices move inwardly toward the blade 2t; The guard teeth 22 and the longitudinal edges of the cap member 24 constitute guard means for determining the angle of presentation of the implement to the face of the user and also to prevent the skin from bulging inside the cutting line where it would be damaged by the rotation of the helix. The implement as a whole is moved transversely across the face of the user in either direction and in this movement the hairs which are directed to the helix in the advancing side of the implement are sheared by the co-operative action of the rotary helix and .the serrated blade edges which they encounter.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is illustrated a somewhat different mechanical organization embodying my invention. This implement is operated by a vertical motor disposed within a cylindrical casing 40 and supplied with energy by wires 4| which enter its lower end. A part of the arma-' ture 42 is shown in Fig. 12. The armature shaft 43 is journaled in the upper end of the casing and provided with a worm 44. A frame 45 is secured to the upper endof the casing 40 and to the ends of this are secured a pair of vertically movable end plates 46. The end plates are secured to the frame by pin and slot connections and are normally urged upwardly by curved leaf springs 39 which are secured upon opposite sides to the hub of the frame 45 and engaged beneath the lower edges of the plates. Journaled in the end plate 46 is a pair of spaced transverse shafts 38, each of which is provided with a centrally disposed worm gear, not shown, by which the two shafts are driven from the worm 44 on the motor shaft. Each shaft 38 is provided at one end with a drive pinion 49 and the latter meshes with a driven pinion 50 fast upon the end of a shaft carrying rotary cutter 5| which may correspond to the cutting helices shown in Figs. 8, 9 or 10. It will be noted that this worm gear drive is such as to impart rotation to the two cutting helices in opposite directions and, accordingly, the direction of rotation of the motor is made such as to rotate both helices inwardly at their upper sides.

The frame 45 constitutes a blade support having parallel fulcrum shoulders over which a thin double-edged blade 52 may be flexed transversely by a concave cap member 41, the latter is adjustably maintained in position upon the frame by a vertical thumb screw 48. The portion of the implement illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 is similar to that already described except that the end plates assembled with the spaced helices journaled therein are urged upwardly at all times so that yielding contact is maintained between the helices and the opposite edges of the blade 52. The position and curvature of the blade may be regulated by turning-the thumb screw .48 in or out, although the blade may be If desired, the edge- 7 into substantial tangential relation with the helices.

Still another form of implement embodying the invention is partially illustrated in Fig. 13. In this instance, a pair of cutting helices 6|, one only being shown, is journaled in end plates yieldingly mounted upon the frame and these helices are arranged to co-operate with a substantial rigid concave cutting member 62 which is provided with oppositely disposed cutting edges and is clamped in position upon the frame 60 by a'thumb screw 63. The cutting member 62 is in this instance clamped rigidly in shaving position while the helices are maintained yieldingly in operative relation thereto by being mounted in movable end plates as that already explained in connection with the implement 01 Figs. 11 and 12.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01 the United States is:

1. A dry shaving implement 'having, in combination, a cylindrical motor casing having a blade support thereon and spaced parallel troughs therein, a flexible blade located upon the support and overhanging both of said troughs, a rotary cutter in each trough, and a motor in said casing having connections for driving the cutters in opposite directions while yieldingly engaged by op posite edges of the blade.

2. A dry shaving implement having, in combination, a blade with oppositely disposed cutting edges, a co-operating cutting helix mounted for rotation under each edge of the blade and resiiiently supported in contact therewith, and means for driving the helices in opposite directions.

3. A shaving implement having, in combination, spaced rotary cutting helices, a power-driven shaft, separate gear trains between said shaft and the respective helices for driving the helices in' opposite directions, a double-edged blade main-- tained with its edges substantially in contact with the respective helices, and guard members associated therewith.

4. A shaving implement having, in combination, a pair of rotary cutting helices arranged in spaced parallel relation, a power operated element, separate gear trains for connecting said element and the respective helices for driving the helices at substantially the same speed, a blade support located above said helices, and means for transversely flexing a double-edged blade on said support to bring its edges into cutting relation with the respective helices.

5. A shaving implement having, in combination, a pair of rotary cutting helices arranged in spaced parallel relation, a blade supported between said helices, apower-driven shaft, separate gear trains located between said shaft and one end of the respective helices for rotating them at substantially the same rate of speed, and means for adjustably flexing the blade to position its opposite edges in cutting relation with the reso spective helices.

NICHOLAS TESTI. 

